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Ethics of the Trees 



By 

FLETCHER BASCOM DRESSLAR 




1921 

THE STRATFORD CO., Publishers 

BOSTON 



A 

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Copyright, 1921 

The STRATFORD CO., Publishers 

Boston, Mass. 



OCT 28 1921 



The Alpine Press, Boston, Mass., U. S. A. 



©u'.A630038 



^0 Cornelia 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



Yonder oak is one of an unbroken line. 
Its brave ancestors throughout all its racial 
history are now at work in its individual 
life. 



The tree which gets no joy out of its 
own environment will seek in vain for 
contentment. 



M 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



Only trees of mutual understandings 
and mutual needs can grow into a forest. 
Trees do not make a forest; forests make 
the trees. 



H 



All trees strive to grow. From beyond 
their own individual limitations a charge 
is laid upon them. A call cometh from 
afar, irresistible and precious. 



[2] 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



The Aspens shiver in the faintest breeze, 
and are fearful in the storms. They are 
ever pliant, and for the most part reach no 
useful conclusions. 



* 



Large numbers of trees in city parks are 
defective. They would be safer in a more 
natural environment. 



[3] 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



Many trees are lopsided, because of their 
neighbors. 

51 

The weaker trees, and those that are top 
heavy, lean with prevailing winds, and in 
time must lose their balance and fall. 



[4] 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



The tree that groweth in the shadow of 
its neighbors hath no power to stand in the 
open. 

The only adjustments tall trees can af- 
ford to make to prevailing winds are those 
which insure deeper rooting and straighter 
trunks. 



[5] 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



Trees cannot dwell together without 
mutual advantages and disadvantages. 
The leaf mold that enriches the earth is 
a general contribution from all for all. 



* 



Trees transplanted from the land of deep 
snows droop their branches in the sunniest 
climes, and anticipate burdens that never 
come. 



[6] 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



The weakling in the forest may, at 
times, have to struggle for light; but its 
strong neighbors shield it from the storms, 
and the rains beat upon it with less 
violence. 



H 



The tragedies of the forest are those of 
strength against weakness, of weakness 
against strength; of age against youth, of 
youth against age; of riches against pov- 
erty, of poverty against riches. 



[7] 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



Trees need the music of running brooks, 
the songs of the wild birds, the summons 
of an undefiled forest, and the spirit of the 
hills. 



Some long-lived trees are too crooked 
and gnarled for any worthy use, save to 
make firewood and perchance to reveal 
the humbleness of beauty. 



[8] 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



The darker side of a tree carries the 
greater amount of moss, Hchens, and other 
parasites. But the whole tree suffers. 



For the most part all of the trees in a 
great city lean toward the street, drop their 
foliage prematurely, and scatter their pre- 
cious seeds on unresponsive bricks and 
stones. 



[9] 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



There is somewhere an environment for 
each kind of tree, where it can reach its 
fullest development, and best serve its pur- 
pose. Removed from this, it may, for a 
time, give great promise ; but when tested, 
its fiber shows unexpected weakness. 



* 



A leaning tree may grow strong, and 
stand for a long time, if its roots grapple 
the immovable rocks on the upper side of 
the hill. 



[10] 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



A vigorous, growing tree is constantly 
pruning itself. 

Out of apparently the same common 
sunshine and air, moisture and soil, all the 
varieties of trees in a forest grow. The 
individual tree is ever a new expression. 



[II] 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



Trees grow by laying hold of the oppor- 
tunities within reach, and you have never 
heard of a successful one that did not 
fasten itself to the earth, and lift its hands 
toward the sky. 



Trees are not safely transplanted when 
old. Broken connections are then hard to 
heal. 



[12] 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



An unbalanced tree discloses influences 
over which it has had no control; and 
always suggests weakness and lack of 
repose. 



A gigantic Southern oak often succumbs 
to the insistent and persistent influence of 
the degenerate weakling parasite, the mis- 
tletoe. The only salvation of an oak so 
assailed is a resistance strong enough to 
overcome. The finest and strongest oaks 
grow where parasites do not flourish. 



[13] 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



One tree does not make a forest. 



There are trees which are of great serv- 
ice just because they are beautiful. 



[M] 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



A tree is in danger of the storms when 
it gets top-heavy. 

There is no call for a. tree to grow tall 
when isolated from its fellows. 



[15] 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



We have seen trees whose roots have 
rent asunder gigantic granite boulders, and 
whose branches had to contend with the 
deep mountain snows for a large part of 
the year. They were scarred, ill-formed, 
and lonely, but clung to life with an en- 
during tenacity deeply significant and 
beautiful. 



And Jesus said: "A good tree can not 
bring forth evil fruit, neither can a cor- 
rupt tree bring forth good fruit." 



[i6] 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



Those trees which are now found on the 
earth are not like those which once flour- 
ished. They have ever responded to the 
call for an unceasing progress. 



?s 



Trees which wrought valiantly, but per- 
ished long ago, still serve to nourish, ani- 
mate and cheer. 



[17] 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



The song of the forest is deeper and 
richer than that of any single tree. 

Most trees, even the best, have some 
crooked branches. 



[i8] 




Beethoven and The Tress 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



It is often difficult to tell from mere out- 
ward appearance whether a tree is really- 
sound or decayed at the heart. When 
storms come, inner weaknesses are re- 
vealed. 



* 



There are hopes of renewed life when 
trees put out new shoots on old branches. 



[19] 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



There are beautiful trees, and useful in 
all parts of the globe. 



* 



It is impossible to find a perfect tree. 
Untoward influences never totally dis- 
appear. 



[20] 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



The most difficult trees to uproot are 
those that grow among the rocks. But 
they are in danger of expending most of 
their energy in taking hold. 



n 



Those trees which lift their heads the 
highest are those which must meet the 
storms with the greatest resistance. 



[21] 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



The artists of the world do not find in- 
spiration in a tree which has grown with- 
out struggle, whose branches are straight 
and even, and whose trunk reveals no 
scars. 



'Trees have a period for growth, and a 
period for rest. 



[22-] 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



Each tree must do its own growing. 
Other trees may shelter and protect: but 
life and growth are individual. 



Where many big trees grow there you 
find little or no underbrush. 



[23] 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



Those trees which yield the most valu- 
able wood are selected to serve the whole 
world. 



Some trees are most valuable because of 
the fruit they bear, and such trees need 
the greatest care. 



[^4] 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



Some of the finest trees grow in for- 
bidding ground. But they send their roots 
deep and lift up their heads with joy and 
gladness. 

n 

Those trees which attain full foliage in 
early spring must prepare against an early 
autumn. 



[25] 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



The tall tree on the hilltop guides the 
wanderer, tempers the storms, shelters the 
weary, keeps the stream at its foot clearer, 
enfolds the wild flowers with its leaves, 
shields its weaker brothers, and softens the 
heart of adamant. 



9 



The latest rings in the growth of a tree 
are always in the sap-wood. It takes time 
for the heart to acquire its consistency, to 
grow strong, to expand, and resist the ele- 
ments from without. 



[26] 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



Trees that stand alone are often pretty, 
but they frequently produce more brush 
than wood. 



You can walk over the tops of great 
forests of spruce, in the mountains of the 
land of the midnight sun. These tiny trees 
are full-grown, but they must lie close to 
the ground or be crushed by the deep 
snows of winter. And yet, even to these, 
there will come a long and sunny day. 



[27] 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



A tree that can keep a sound heart is 
likely to live a long time. 



Trees that strike their roots deep with- 
stand both storms and drouth. 



[28] 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



If trees are crooked in youth they will 
likely show some bend in old age. 



Trees are always struggling to grow a 
straight trunk, and to lift their heads 
toward the light. 



[29] 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



Trees with an unsound heart usually 
begin to die at the top. 






Some of the most valuable trees have 
a rough, wrinkled bark, and are not comely 
in appearance. 



[30] 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



Some little trees may be as perfect and 
useful as the largest trees. 



9 



All trees, good or worthless, have ene- 
mies, and these enemies are best resisted 
when trees just keep growing. 



[31] 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



Trees of precocious growth are usually 
soft-hearted, contain an undue amount of 
sap-wood, and are weak and pliant. 



* 



Those of old who went down to sea in 
ships selected for the framework of the 
hull those parts of trees which had grown 
strong by reason of heavy burdens borne, 
and, through much stress and strain, had 
knit their sinews strong enough to resist 
the waves of an angry sea. And so they 
made the knees for their ship from the 
great prop roots of the trees. 

[32] 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



**The leaves of the trees are for the heal- 
ing of nations/' for these, under the influ- 
ence of light, transform earth mold and 
moisture into Life. 



jBf 



Young trees grow well when associated 
together. But you have doubtless noticed 
that some soon outstrip the others. 



[33] 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



Some trees are adapted for making fine 
furniture. Others are best used for rail- 
road ties. 



SBEBk 



In the unbroken forest there is tran- 
quillity in the calm, courage in the storm, 
contentment in sunshine or shadow, un- 
swerving obedience to the all-pervading 
Spirit of Nature, and an unhesitating faith 
in the call to live. 



[34] 



ETHICS OF THE TREES 



The tall and stately sugar pines reach a 
lofty altitude, but the best of them spread 
their hands and bow their heads in the 
presence of infinite space. 

POSTSCRIPT 

What we see, what we hear, 

Bringeth joy or a tear. 
As waters give back a reflection. 

What we read, what we keep, 

Be it shallow or deep, 
Revealeth the soul's own selection. 



[35] 










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